Base assembly for tower fan

ABSTRACT

A tower fan has a fan housing with a base and a threaded post extending from the base. The tower fan also has a base assembly that includes a front piece and a rear piece that define a domed configuration with an annular walled space when they are assembled together. The front piece has an extension provided at opposing first and second ends, with each extension having an upper surface, a well opening in the upper surface, and a vertical well extending under the upper surface from the well opening. The rear piece has a shelf that has opposing first and second ends, and a post extending under the shelf adjacent each end of the shelf. When the front and rear pieces are assembled together, each post is inserted through the well opening and the vertical well of a corresponding extension, with the base of the fan housing fitted inside the annular walled space. A threaded screw is threadably coupled to the threaded post to secure the base of the fan housing to the assembled front and rear pieces.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a base assembly for a tower fan, and in particular, to a base assembly that can be quickly and conveniently assembled for use with the tower fan.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Portable tower fans have been very popular for use in cooling and venting rooms and spaces. These tower fans are portable in that they are relatively lightweight and can be conveniently moved from one space to another.

Most of these portable fans have a base assembly that is usually wider in width and diameter than the vertical body of the fan housing itself. To minimize the size of the packaging or box for the tower fan, the base assembly is usually broken down into multiple pieces and requires some minimal assembly by the end-user when unboxing the product and setting it up for use.

Thus, there still remains a need for a base assembly for use with a tower fan that can be quickly and conveniently assembled for use.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present invention provides a tower fan having a fan housing with a base and a threaded post extending from the base. The tower fan also has a base assembly that includes a front piece and a rear piece that define a domed configuration with an annular walled space when they are assembled together. The front piece has opposing first and second ends, with a first extension provided at the first end, and a second extension provided at the second end, with each extension having an upper surface, a well opening in the upper surface, and a vertical well extending under the upper surface from the well opening. The rear piece has a shelf that has opposing first and second ends, a first post extending under the shelf adjacent the first end of the shelf and a second post extending under the shelf adjacent the second end of the shelf. When the front and rear pieces are assembled together, the first post is inserted through the well opening and the vertical well of the first extension, and the second post is inserted through the well opening and the vertical well of the second extension, with the base of the fan housing fitted inside the annular walled space. A threaded screw is threadably coupled to the threaded post to secure the base of the fan housing to the assembled front and rear pieces.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tower fan according to the present invention shown in an assembled configuration with the base assembly.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the fan housing of FIG. 1 shown without the base assembly.

FIG. 3 is an exploded top view of the base assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4A is an exploded bottom view of the base assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4B is enlarged view of the region A in FIG. 4A.

FIG. 5A is an assembled bottom view of the base assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5B is enlarged view of the region B in FIG. 5A.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the attachment of the bottom of the fan housing to the base assembly.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the screw that is secured to the bottom of the base assembly.

FIG. 8A is a bottom view of the base assembly after the fan housing has been secured thereto.

FIG. 8B is an enlarged view showing the screw of FIG. 7 secured to the bottom of the base assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating general principles of embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

FIGS. 1-8B illustrate a tower fan 10 according to the present invention. The tower fan 10 has a fan housing 20 and a base assembly 30 that is removably secured to the bottom of the fan housing 20. The fan housing 20 can be any conventional fan housing having a housing 22 that houses the motor, the fan, and the other electrical components and controls 24 for operating the tower fan 10. Referring to FIG. 6, the base of the housing 22 has an annular flange 26 that defines an interior space 23. A cylindrical post 25 extends from the center of the housing 22 into the interior space 23, and a power cord 32 extends from inside the housing 22 through the cylindrical post 25. The outer surface of the cylindrical post 25 is threaded. An alignment post 28 extends from the base of the housing 22 adjacent the annular flange 26.

FIGS. 3-6 illustrate the base assembly 30 in greater detail. The base assembly 30 is generally comprised of a front piece 34 a and a rear piece 34 b. Both pieces 34 a and 34 b are generally semi-circular, with an arc-shaped top shelf 36 a and 36 b, respectively. From the outer annular edge of the top shelves 36 a and 36 b, an angled wall 38 a and 38 b, respectively, extends outwardly towards an annular outer base wall 40 a and 40 b, respectively. As a result, when the two pieces 34 a and 34 b are assembled together, they form a domed configuration with a central opening 42 (see FIGS. 4A and 5A) that receives the base of the housing 22. A vertical wall 44 a and 44 b, respectively, extends from the inner annular edge of the top shelves 36 a and 36 b to a plate 46 a and 46 b, respectively. The combined vertical walls 44 a and 44 b define an annular walled space 98 for receiving the annular flange 26 of the fan housing 20. An arc-shaped ridge 48 a and 48 b, respectively extends from the center of each plate 46 a and 46 b, so that the two ridges 48 a and 48 b together form an annular ridge when the two pieces 34 a and 34 b are assembled together. An opening 50 is provided on the rear ridge 48 b.

Referring now to FIGS. 3-5B, the front piece 34 a has two identical extensions 70, each extending from an opposite end 72 and 74 of the semi-circular front piece 34 a. Each extension 70 has an upper surface 76 and an angled ramp 78 extending radially outwardly. An opening 80 is provided in each upper surface 76 and leads to a vertical well 82. A vertical wall 84 encloses the well 82 and the angled ramp 78 at each end 72 and 74. An L-shaped holder 86 extends outwardly away from the vertical wall 84.

The rear piece 34 b has two identical posts 88, each extending from an opposite end 90 and 92 of the semi-circular rear piece 34 b. A vertical wall 94 extends interiorly from the shelf 36 b and the angled wall 38 b adjacent the post 88 at each end 90 and 92. The two pieces 34 a and 34 b are secured together by aligning the posts 88 with the openings 80, and inserting the posts 88 into the wells 82. FIGS. 4A and 4B show the two pieces 34 a and 34 b separated, and FIGS. 5A and 5B show the two pieces 34 a and 34 b assembled together. The shelf 36 b and the angled wall 38 b of the rear piece 34 b are fitted around the upper surface 76 and angled ramp 78, respectively, of the extensions 70, with the vertical wall 94 received by the L-shaped holders 86 against the vertical wall 84 to secure the connections.

The underside of the rear piece 34 b also has a cut opening 106 and a tab 108 with an opening. The base wall 40 b has a cut-out 110 that is aligned with the tab 108 and the cut opening 106.

FIG. 7 illustrates a screw 100 that is used to secure the fan housing 20 to the base assembly 30. The screw 100 has a wavy outer contour to allow the user to grip it more conveniently, and has a central threaded opening 102.

To assemble the tower fan 10, the power cord 32 is extended through the central opening 42 in the assembled base assembly 30. See FIG. 6. The bottom of the fan housing 20 is seated inside the annular walled space 98 defined by the vertical walls 44 a and 44 b, with the annular flange 26 sized and configured to fit snugly inside the annular walled space 98 and against the vertical walls 44 a and 44 b. The power cord 32 is also extended through the opening 102 in the screw 100 (see FIG. 8A) and the screw 100 is screwed around the threaded outer surface of the cylindrical post 25. This threaded connection will secure the fan housing 20 to the base assembly 30. The power cord 32 is extended through the cut opening 106, the opening in the tab 108, and the cut-out 110 so that it can be extended to a power outlet.

Although the two pieces 34 a and 34 b are illustrated as defining an annular domed configuration, it is also possible to configure the two pieces 34 a and 34 b so that they define a domed four-sided or multi-sided configuration with a central opening 42 when assembled together.

Thus, the base assembly 30 of the present invention provides a base that is easily and conveniently assembled while occupying minimal space.

While the description above refers to particular embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. The accompanying claims are intended to cover such modifications as would fall within the true scope and spirit of the present invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A tower fan, comprising: a fan housing with a base and a threaded post extending from the base; a base assembly comprising: a front piece and a rear piece, wherein when the front and rear pieces are assembled together, they define a domed configuration with an annular walled space; wherein the front piece has opposing first and second ends, a first extension provided at the first end, and a second extension provided at the second end, with each extension having an upper surface, a well opening in the upper surface, and a vertical well extending under the upper surface from the well opening; wherein the rear piece has a shelf that has opposing first and second ends, a first post extending under the shelf adjacent the first end of the shelf and a second post extending under the shelf adjacent the second end of the shelf; wherein when the front and rear pieces are assembled together, the first post is inserted through the well opening and the vertical well of the first extension, and the second post is inserted through the well opening and the vertical well of the second extension, with the base of the fan housing fitted inside the annular walled space; and a threaded screw that is threadably coupled to the threaded post to secure the base of the fan housing to the assembled front and rear pieces.
 2. The tower fan of claim 1, wherein each of the front and rear pieces is semi-circular and has a shelf that has an inner edge and an outer edge, and an angled wall extends radially outwardly from outer edge of the top shelf of each of the front and rear pieces, and a vertical wall extends from the inner edge of each shelf, with the combined vertical walls for the front and rear pieces defining the annular walled space.
 3. The tower fan of claim 1, wherein each extension has an angled ramp extending radially outwardly from the upper surface, and a vertical wall extends from the upper surface and encloses the well and the angled ramp at each of the first and second ends, with an L-shaped holder extending outwardly away from the vertical wall.
 4. The tower fan of claim 1, wherein a vertical wall extends interiorly from the shelf of the rear piece adjacent each of the first and second posts at each of the first and second ends.
 5. The tower fan of claim 3, wherein the vertical wall for each extension is a front piece vertical wall, and wherein a rear piece vertical wall extends interiorly from the shelf of the rear piece adjacent each of the first and second posts at each of the first and second ends, wherein when the front and rear pieces are secured together, each rear piece vertical wall is received by a respective L-shaped holder against the front piece vertical wall.
 6. The tower fan of claim 2, wherein each vertical wall has a base, and a plate is provided at the base of each vertical wall, wherein a ridge extends from the center of each plate, so that the two ridges together form an annular ridge when the front and rear pieces are assembled together, and defining a central opening.
 7. The tower fan of claim 5, wherein each of the front and rear pieces is semi-circular and has a shelf that has an inner edge and an outer edge, and an angled wall extends radially outwardly from outer edge of the top shelf of each of the front and rear pieces, and a shelf vertical wall extends from the inner edge of each shelf, with the combined shelf vertical walls for the front and rear pieces defining the annular walled space.
 8. The tower fan of claim 7, wherein each shelf vertical wall has a base, and a plate is provided at the base of each shelf vertical wall, wherein a ridge extends from the center of each plate, so that the two ridges together form an annular ridge when the front and rear pieces are assembled together, and defining a central opening. 